A provisional all-chase card has been programmed by the British Horseracing Authority for Sandown on Friday in an attempt to safeguard the fixture.

This will consist of the three chases originally scheduled plus three additional chase opportunities.

All additional races will be free to enter and a final decision on whether the existing hurdle races will be abandoned and the provisional chases activated will be made at 8am on Thursday.

The provisional, additional chases will close at noon on Wednesday. Should these races subsequently be activated, they will close for declarations at 10am on Thursday.

Andrew Cooper, head of racing and clerk of the course at Sandown, said: "We saw 17mm of rain at Sandown Park on Sunday followed by snow yesterday morning. As a result parts of the hurdle course are currently saturated. We are expecting further rain here on Thursday, with some forecasts suggesting as much as 10mm.

"In order to give ourselves the best chance of staging a day's racing here on Friday we have asked BHA to provisionally schedule an all-chase card with six races."

Sandown's going is currently described as heavy, with soft places in the back straight.